ROCHELLE — Senior midfielder Fernando Diaz found the net twice to lead the Rochelle Hub varsity soccer team in a physical nonconference match against Sterling on Thursday evening.

Diaz scored two goals for the Hubs, who held a one-goal advantage for most of the second half until a free kick in the 77th minute led to an equalizer for the Golden Warriors. In an intense match that featured 20 fouls made, four total cards and injuries to players on both sides, neither squad emerged victorious, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw after Sterling’s late second-half score. Rochelle (2-3-1, 0-0 Interstate 8) will host Johnsburg in nonconference play on Monday.

“I thought this was one of the more intense matches we’ve played,” head coach Brad Male said. “We moved the ball well and we were looking for each other and our communication was better… We need to keep playing how we started the game and we need to keep looking for each other in those open spots. The quick one-two touch is the kind of game we need to play.”

The Hubs struck first on Thursday, with Diaz drawing a foul inside the Sterling penalty area during the 11th minute. While Diaz saw his penalty shot blocked, the senior followed up his miss and booted a right-footed ball into the back of the Sterling net to give the Hubs a 1-0 lead.

“Fernando’s one of our captains this year and I’m looking for him to continue leading the team,” Male said. “This was his second game back this season and I’m looking for him to continue to improve our communication up top and to continue moving the ball well for our offense.”

While Rochelle controlled possession for the early portion of the first half, Sterling generated pressure toward the end of the first half, ultimately converting a corner kick into a goal during the 33rd minute. The match remained tied entering the second half, where Rochelle retook the lead on Diaz’s second goal. The senior scored on a long pass from sophomore defender Alexis Nava, who blasted a left-footed kick into the box that Diaz converted during the 53rd minute. 

The Hubs held their lead late into the second half and appeared ready to hold on for their third win of the season. But a foul made just outside the Rochelle box in the 77th minute led to a free kick for the Golden Warriors, who sent the ball toward the net as a number of players battled for possession. Junior goalkeeper Antonio Hueramo made an initial deflection, but he was unable to corral the ball, which fell to the ground and was kicked in by Sterling to tie the score.

The shot distribution was mostly even throughout the match, with Rochelle slightly outpacing Sterling 14-11 in total shots while the Golden Warriors had an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal. Hueramo finished with five saves for the Hubs, while Diaz totaled five shots on goal in the draw.